New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-30
NEED OF COAST DEFENCES.
ACTION OF THE PRODUCE EXCHANGE.

| STRONG RESOLUTIONS AND SPEECHES by MR.
PARKER. Ex-MAYOR EDISON AND OTHERS.
As evidence Of the great interest Of business men In
the matter OF defences meeting OF the members OF
the Produce Exchange yesterday conclusive The
attendance unusually large and the remarks made
enthusaso. while thorough appreciation Of them
shown by frequent and hearty applause. President
| Wiliam MCGEE presided. Upon the walls were sketches
showing the growth OF guns and OF proectes
the growth OF ironcad ships the Russian roncads the
coming rship-egg shaped and with inclined armor
torpedo seamer-vertica and inclined armor electrical
fuses and Internal machines. Forrest H. Parker presi-
dent OF the Produce Exchange Bank presented the fol-
| lowing resolutions:
Whereas We assured by authority
ys ni 1nr b are not IN condition to
| sell; and
Wheas 1t appear, to us that any delay meeting
lr T qrnSs s T0s
fully urgently requests Congress to authorize the ex
psaares o. such sums .hs IN the opinion Of competent
ant seaports IN state OF complete defence and also
be sent each Of our Senators and in cons
gress with request that they urge immediate action by
Forrest H. Parker said in parts
Competent authority assures and warns that arnord
such condition aars IS the height Of folly TO- u. IN
our % IorcsOns and wait un aored war
other important dds city 1t = rdcuoas It Is more
/ say II is rIdisnlous because we are wealthy
our in OF %
ina negligence because Is empowered
try and adj because tho syenns Of the
This Exchange theory immaturod counsel as to
the best method 10 advance We merchants Upon
.or are male Of large masntade with all arts
seaports country are too proud Of our
acton as shall prevent tie possibility Of 6nmIston and we
ask onr Govcnmen to devise tho best for defence
TO e. soon as possible s II
substance he said:
needs no to show the necessity Of protection in
ing as to what Kind OF racaons s an er 1 Tp or
whether a large navy il needed
Heread letter from Commander IT. c. Taylor Of the
Navy regrctng that he could attend the meeting
He added that the general principle not recognized
as should be that any fort caabe OF changing Its posi-
other wors ships are efficient than forts and to
such degree that NewYork can not absolutely be de-
Tended with forts with any except fleet pos
sessng mobility and seaworthness equal to the enemys
would h OF that by forts and to maintain the
feet would cost onehalf annually tho maintenance OF
sells were provided
FOREIGN naves In comparison with that OF the United
States. especially OF ronclais AMI said that England
had so France 40 Russia 10 Italy and Turkey each ~
Germany Is; Austria .. Denmark 7. Spain ana Brazil
each o. aud Chill and Japan each ronclads For the
only = 100000 was expended for vessels. What
The estimated at s7 5oo0oo. bnteven II it
S20oOoOOo could there be question of obgati N 70
III
this protection could be Obtained from
Congress then tho matter should be given
into other hands. There n necessity for
immediate action lie believed that the Legislature OF
the state showing Congress the Importance OF being
ready for the possibilities OF war He said In closing:
n we should fail TO awaken interest ut Albany, then the
City of New York should take the hand We should
confidence protect ourselves
against the possibility OF disaster
Lieutenant Zalinsk. Of the Army. SAID that while 1t
might he Inferred that condition OF defence meant
condition or defiance. such not the This coun
try needed decncss Ia protect the coast and the cities
from attack He advcrtcd Ia his pneumatic dyna
mite gun. explaining how IL could be used Submarine
boats and ether vesse lie depOred the fact that
II hal been necessary abroad for much
erial that could be manufactured here, and looked
hopefully 10 the future that would give
snip owning and shipbuling industries lie advocated
iron aud steel urretforts the building Of armored
aud improved and said that rife mOrars could he
arranged aui. aud they you'd be an essential elo
ucnt In the defence Owing 10 their inaccuracy OF fire
they should he arranged gToupso forty and that New
York harbor should nave two groups.
T. j. Palmer also spoke and the resolutions was IMAM
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